Gebo Burka and Amane Gobena of Ethiopia ultimately had one fierce rival apiece to defeat for the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, at the LA Marathon on Sunday. But the most meaningful battle, ultimately, was that between Burka and Gobena.

Burka’s 2:10:37 to lead the men and Gobena’s 2:27:37 to top the women were each worth $25,000. But it was Gobena who came home with the race’s “challenger bonus” of $50,000. The elite women were granted a 17:41 head start – and at the race’s end, Gobena was still 47 seconds ahead of Burka.

“I'm building a house, and definitely that home will be paid off," Gobena said, through an interpreter.

For the United States, the big story of the day in Los Angeles was Lauren Kleppin’s third place 2:28:48. It was a personal best by more than 13 minutes for Kleppin, a Western State Colorado graduate who now competes for the Mammoth Track Club. The club’s president, American marathon record holder Deena Kastor, was part of the local KTLA-TV broadcast team for the race.

“I’m just beyond happy,” said Kleppin, a Western State Colorado graduate who was the USA Half Marathon runner-up in January. She’s been a Mammoth Track Club member since September of last year.

Behind Burka, the second and third men in the LA Marathon were Lani Rutto of Kenya in 2:10:48 and defending champion Erick Mose, also of Kenya, in 2:12:56. Gabe Proctor, another Mammoth Track Club member, was the top American man in sixth in 2:15:17. Tigist Tufa of Ethiopia was the second woman in 2:28:04, with Kleppin third, as the Los Angeles Times reports.

Mose had missed earning the “challenge bonus” in 2013 and had given assurances that the men’s pace would be quicker this year so as contend for the bonus. But in the early miles, that did not prove to be the case.

A large men’s lead pack – as many as 16 in the first few miles -- was whittled down to just Burka and Tufa by mile 21, with Burka the clear leader two miles later. But Rutto would catch up with Burka again once more with a mile remaining before the Ethiopian pulled away to clinch his victory.

Gobena and Tufa were dominating the women’s race by mile 18, with Gobena shaking off her pursuer by mile 23. Kleppin, who’d boldly run with the leaders early on, tenaciously hung on and fought her way back into third. I just kind of had to fight that in my mind," she affirmed, "and realize I really wanted to finish in that top five."